When I woke up this morning to almost nine inches of fresh snow, I was struck by how beautiful and white it was outside. Just then a cardinal and his bride landed right outside the window, bright cardinal red. I immediately thought of a saying I read, “Cardinals appear when angels are near.”
I wondered just for a minute which angel was visiting me this morning? Was it my great-grandma? Was it my brother? Was it my friend Rose Mary? Then I decided it was probably a bit of everyone because these little birds got me thinking of all of them. What a beautiful symbol of heaven on earth.
The cardinal is my mother-in-law’s favorite bird. She puts out seed to attract them year around. Cardinals don’t migrate so they remain in the same area all their lives. Did you know cardinals mate for life? Once you attract a pair, you can be sure they will stay close and raise their babies. Looking at the beautiful life of a cardinal, it’s easy to see why it has so many people who love them.
I did some research and found that the word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardo, meaning hinge. Kind of a door hinge. So, some people believe a cardinal is the hinge on the doorway between Earth and Heaven or Spirits. That means cardinals can carry messages back and forth. So, when you see a beautiful red cardinal you should say hello, and I love you, and I miss you. The message will then be carried back to the ones you miss. What a beautiful thought. Advice from a Cardinal
. Stand out in a crowd.
. Go out on a limb.
. Be a bright spot in others’ lives.
. Speak up!
. Be home before dark.
. Add color to your life.
. It’s OK to be a little flashy!
PS: You can email me your thoughts and messages at sandyholthaus1010@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
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